Washington Valor to Host Open Tryout Dec. 9

The Washington Valor will host an open tryout on Saturday, Dec. 9 to find players to add to their 2018 roster. The tryout will be held at the Athletic Performance Inc. (API) from 10 a.m. ET – 3 p.m. ET in Gambrills, MD. Head coach Dean Cokinos and the entire Valor coaching staff will be in attendance.

“We’re in a talent-rich region and hope to find some quality players who can contribute to our organization,” Cokinos said. “We are seeking talented, tough and hardworking players from the area and beyond. This will be the first chance for potential candidates to showcase their abilities.”

Drills that will be at the tryout will include the 40-yard dash, short shuttle and broad jump. Players are being asked to wear athletic shorts, or sweatpants, and a t-shirt. Since the tryout will be held on field turf, those looking to try out must wear turf shoes.

Defensive linemen Jake Payne and JR Collins, along with kickers T.C. Stevens and Sam Hurwitz and quarterback Josh Portis all earned spots on the 2017 roster after last off-season’s open tryout.

Pre-registration will cost $75. Anyone that registers the day of will have to pay $100 in cash beginning at 8:30 a.m. in order to participate.

Washington kicked off their inaugural season in 2017, but it didn’t go exactly as planned. After a season-opening win over the Baltimore Brigade, Washington lost 10 in a row before winning two of their final tree games. Unfortunately, they were the lone team left out of the Arena League Football League playoffs last season.

They will be looking to turn it around in 2018, should there be a season. The CBA expired on Sept. 30 and the league has been quiet as far as negotiations and attempting to sign a new CBA.

Arena Football League Week 18 Power Rankings

5. Washington Valor

It’s over. It’s finally over. After a season that saw a 10 game losing streak, the season has come to an end for the Valor. They are the lone team out of the playoffs. Now there are many questions headed into 2018. Will Dean Cokinos still be the team’s coach? Who will return? Will the Valor even return or was this their one season?

4. Baltimore Brigade

It’s unfortunate that Baltimore finished with the final seed in the playoffs, but due to poor play the final couple games and the loss of quarterback Shane Carden, this is where they now stand at the end of the season. They are not expected to play in the ArenaBowl on Aug. 26, but the season they had overall was a good one.

3. Cleveland Gladiators

It has been a roller coaster season for the Gladiators. After a 1-3 start and starting three different quarterbacks, they are going into the playoffs with a chip on their shoulder. Week in and week out, they have just gotten better and better. Now, they have a good chance at upsetting the next team on our list in their playoff matchup next Monday to advance to ArenaBowl XXX.

2. Tampa Bay Storm

Tampa Bay had an incredible turnaround this season, going from 2-15 to now (11-3, 10-4). Of course it didn’t come easy. They had to clean house and bring all sorts of veterans. They have played flawless football all season long, but their only weakness is they couldn’t beat the defending champs.

1. Philadelphia Soul

The Soul are the clear cut winner to win ArenaBowl XXX at this point. They have a much easier matchup in the Brigade than they would have had in the Gladiators. Should Tampa Bay beat Cleveland in the second semifinal, Philadelphia would host the Storm in the title game Aug. 26. As they have shown in all three meetings this season, the Soul have the Storm’s number. They’re looking like they will repeat as ArenaBowl champions at season’s end.

Washington Valor Fire Offensive Coordinator Steve Thonn

The Washington Valor have fired offensive coordinator Steve Thonn. Washington have lost two games in a row after winning their first game in franchise history over the Baltimore Brigade. The reasoning behind the firing has yet to be released by the team, but the assumption is due to the offensive struggles.

Quarterback Erik Meyer has thrown just 10 touchdowns. That is the least touchdown passes in the AFL. He is also second in the league with four interceptions thrown and last with 680 yards passing.

With the departure of Thonn, head coac Dean Cokinos will take over the offensive coordinator duty. He served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Storm in 2016.

Before joining the Valor coaching staff, Thonn was the head coach of the Cleveland Gladiators. During the 2016 season, he went through a lot of health issues that caused him to miss several games on the sidelines.

There was even one scary moment in July against the Orlando Predators. Thonn collapsed on the sideline and had to be escorted out of the Amway Center. Due to that and the multiple other health incidents, the Gladiators decided to part ways with their coach.

The Valor became a team back in October. They were founded by founder of Monumental Sports and Entertainment (MSE) Ted Leonsis. Washington is one of two expansion franchises in the Arena Football League.

The Brigade were announced as the fifth team on Nov. 14. They announced their team name on Jan. 25. Like Washington, Baltimore sits at just one win on the season. They lost their home opener against the Tampa Bay Storm last Sunday when Tampa scored with five seconds left.

The Valor, currently at a 1-2 record, have a tough schedule ahead of them over the next couple weeks. They will play the Storm twice over the next two weeks. One meeting will be in Tampa and the other in Washington, D.C.

They follow their two matches against Tampa with a home game against the defending champion Philadelphia Soul. The Soul won in Washington 49-31 back in Week 3.

Washington Valor 2017 Season Preview

The Washington Valor will be playing in their inaugural season this year, and since the Arena Football will only have five teams, Washington has a legitimate chance of competing for an Arena Bowl. The Valor have put together a roster that should be very competitive this season.

Washington will be coached by Dean Cokinos, who brings a lot of experience to the Valor. Cokinos has been the head coach for the New Orleans Voodoo, Alabama Hammers, Tennessee Valley Vipers, and the Georgia Force. Cokinos was also the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Tampa Bay Storm last season. Cokinos was named PIFL Coach of the Year back in 2013. As mentioned before, Washington has a roster that is loaded with talent.

Starting at quarterback, Washington will have Erik Meyer as their signal caller, and he has been very successful in the AFL. In 2013, Meyer was named Offensive Player of the Year and the League MVP, after throwing 4,667 yards and 112 touchdowns. He  will have a ton of receivers to throw to, as Washington has three exceptional receivers.

The Valor acquired wide receiver T.T Toliver, who became the AFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and all-purpose yards last season. Washington also brought in wide receiver Mike Washington, who has compiled 6,603 receiving yards and 138 touchdowns over his career.

Finally, the Valor acquired Greg Carr, who caught 83 passes for 1,146 yards and 28 touchdowns last year. The defense will be anchored by Tracy Belton, who was named Defensive Player of the Year last season. The Valor will play a 14-game schedule, and there will be four bye weeks during the season. Washington kicks off their season against another expansion team, the Baltimore Brigade.

The following week, they will play host to the defending champion Philadelphia Soul. They will then play their first road game of the season when they travel to face the Gladiators in Week 3. After that game, Washington will have a three-game home stand, before they go on a four-game road trip.

The Valor will play each team at least three times during the season. All game will be broadcasted on the CBS Sports Network or the Monumental Sports Network.